Republicans Flinch

By Douglas V. Gibbs

A deal has been reached, we are being told, and a government shutdown has been averted.

Let it shutdown, was the mantra of the Right. Only those who hold the government as a precious necessity were crying about the possible shutdown.

In reality, pretty much everything the Federal Government does is unconstitutional (except make war, and tax us). Granted, we can't just strike down all of those policies and programs, because people have geared their lives around them. That is where reforms must be used to slowly remove the government from our lives, and insert private entities, and the free market, into those programs. Paul Ryan's budget does just that.

We must also remember the promises of the Republicans. They pledged a $100 billion in spending cuts. They are a little short with this deal. Should we complain, or consider the cut in this deal a step towards the pledge?

The real problems with this "compromise" is that it gave too much to the left. Everyone is excited because it has historical spending cuts, but the GOP backed off on some of the battles, like defunding Planned Parenthood, figuring those battles could be fought another day.

In the end, if this budget compromise is passed (and it looks like it will), it will still make a cut, but the cut in spending, compared to the overall deficit, is but a thimble-full in an ocean of out of control spending. The cut won't even cover the interest. The cut is $38 billion from federal spending. Leaving us trillions upon trillions to go.

President Obama praises this budget deal because the Republicans flinched, and the Democrats got more or less what they wanted by not allowing what they called "social distractions".

Now the conservatives need to vote against this deal, and send it back to the drawing board. Pass the bill that would pay the military, and let the rest of the government shutdown (which really wouldn't shut down - only the "non-essential" would).

Speaker John A. Boehner betrayed the Tea Party, and the promises he made about spending cuts. These cuts are not enough, and he knows it. The fear the GOP would be blamed for a shutdown made the Speaker flinch.

But why are we in this mess in the first place? The Democrats want to blame the Republicans, but this budget should have been taken care of before the new fiscal year on October 1. . . yes, the Democrats, who had control of both houses and the presidency, should have taken care of the budget six months ago.

Why didn't they?

If the Democrats had passed "their" budget last October (or prior), it would have revealed their hand. The truth about their spending would have been open for all to see, and the election would have been even worse for them. . . so they punted the budget, setting up the battle, hoping to shift blame, and responsibility.

Don't get me wrong, there is some good stuff in this budget. . . but it is not enough. It falls short.

The Republicans flinched.

-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary